Electric switch for headlights



Feb. 23 1926.

C. H. BISSELL El AL ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR HEADLIGHTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 15, 1919 7 67 ATTORNEYS.

l 'eb. 23 1926. 1,574,360

c. H. BISSELL El AL ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR HEADLIGHTS Filed Oct. 15, 1919 2Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

I UNITEIDFSTA'IVES'PATENT OFFICE.

cam. 11. BISSELL um 3mm 11. am, or smcusnfiimwyonx, Assronons 'roenousn-nmnsoomm, ors'znnoosn, NEW 101m, A ponrom'non or m YORK.

ELECTRIC swi'rcn r03 muons Application filed Octqher 15, 1019. Serialin. 330,741.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatwe, CARL H. BIssELL and RAYMOND H. OLLEY, citizens ofthe United states, and residents, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondagaand State of New York,

- have invented a certain new and useful and has for its object aparticularly simpleand eflicient switch especially applicable forheadlights used on locomotives and suburban electric trains. in' thenovel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter setforth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a plan and an elevation of a switchembodying our invention.

Figure 3 is a vertica thereof.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the base block of the switch.

' Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View partly in elevation of theswitch member.

' Figure 6 is an end view looking upwardly in Fig. 5.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating the relative positionsof the switch sectional view contacts when the switch is in oil, dim,

means for holding the switch memberinits off position, its first dimmingposition and its bright position, the second dimming position locatedbeyond the bright position of the switch member being unprovided withmeans for holding the switch member against return movement by thespring. I

1 designates the base of the switch and 2 the movable switch member, thebase 1 being here shown as located in a suitable conduit outlet; box 3having means as m5) les for conne'ction-withservice wires, sai

The invention consists being formed of suitable insulation and carryingcontacts 5, 6 and 7 thereon which are in the form of spring fingers,these contacts coacting with the terminal conductor 8 of. the switchmember 2.

The switch member 2 is rotatablymounted within the cap 9 mounted on thebox and comprises a cylindrical body 10 of insulation and a shank 11extending upwardly through the top of the cap 9. Y

The terminal or conductor 8 is mounted on the periphery of thecylindrical body 10 and is of the form shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10.

This conductor 8 is of such form as to engage two of-the contacts 5, 6or 5, 7 and the blank space on the periphery of the body 10 of theswitch between the ends of the terminal 8 is of sufiicient width topermit twdof the contacts as 6, 7 to occupy said space while oneterminal as '5, Fig. 7 is ,engaged with the terminal 8. V I

The contact 5 is connected to one le of an electric circuit 12 in whichthe headhght 13 is connected and the contacts 6 and 7 are connected tothe other leg of such 'circuit 12, a resistance coil 14 being interposedbetween the terminal 6 and the leg of the circuit.

Thus, when the switch member 2 is in off position the terminals 6, 7 areoff the conductor or terminal 8 of the switch member 2 and no currentasses through the circuit 12andlamp 13 t erein. When the switch memberis turned one step from oil? position, the terminal or conductor 8 movesinto the position shown in Fig. 8 so that the contacts 5 and 6 areengaged with said conductor 8 and hence the current flows through thecircuit 12 and the resistance 14 so that the headlight is dimmed.

When the switch is turned an additional step the terminal 8 is moved sothat the terminals 5 and 7 are engaged'with said terminal or conductor 8and incidentally the terminal 6 so that the full current passes throughthe circuit 12 and lamp 13. 7

When the switch member is moved to a position beyond bright position,the terminals 5 and 6 are, engaged with the conductor 8 so that thecurrent in passing through the circuit 12 and lamp 13 also pames through.the resistance 14, hence dimming the light.

cap 9 is iormed with sur- In the illustrated form of 'my invention,

" der 19 to limit the handle from faces 15 and 16 and shoulders 17, 18,19, the

shoulder 17 limiting the handle of the switch member when the switchmember is in ofi osition and the shoulders 18 and 19 being coated at theends of the ratchet surfaces 15 and 16 to limit the movement of .thehandle of the switch member in the first dimmin andin bright position. v

T e top is also provided with an additional shoulder 20 located beyondthe shouloing beond the second dimming position, ut there is no shoulderor any obstruction'to prevent retro ade movement of the handle and theswitc member back to the bright position the spring which tends to movethe switch member toward its ofi position or to the left, Fig. 1.

22 designates the spring, which as here shown encircles the shank 11 ofthe switch member and extends into a recess 23 formed in the switchmember 10 about the shank 11 the recess opening through the top face 0the switch member. The spring 22 is connected at one end as its lowerend to the switch member and its other end to the easingyin any suitablemanner.

' sually, the end portions of the end coils of the spring are extendedradiall relativel to the axis of the s ring an lie in note es formed inthe switch member 10 and in the lower face of the top wall of the cap 9.v

24 is the handle of the switch member which is here shown as pivoted bya -transverse pivot 25 to the outer end of the shank 11, the handlehaving a tooth 26 for coacting with the stops 17, 19 and the ratehetsurfaces 15 16.

The handle is normally pressed about its pivot to hold the tooth 26engaged with the ratchet surfaces by the spring 27 inserted between theshank- 11 and the handle and tending to press the handle downwardlyabout the pivot 25.

As here shown, the handle is formed with a fork embracing the up r endof the shank 11 and the sprin exten s horizontally from 'a socket 28 int e crotch of the fork into m the of the.

a socket 29 formed shank 11.

The..box 3 and cap 9 which form acaslng for the switch member 1, aresecured together in any suitable manner as by screws .or other fasteningmembers 80 extending throu h flanges 31, 32 at the meetin edges of saibox and cap, and referably the base 1 of the'switch is carrie by the cap9 and is secured thereto by screws 33 threadin vertically through thecomers of the base of the switch and into the cap 9.

In operation, the motorman or engineer in turnmg'on the headlight movesthe bandle 24 from ofi' iti'on toward first dimsung position. A any timethe l ght is to mediate the off and bright be permanently dimmed as whenthe train is running through cities and towns, the handle is left inthis dimmed position interpositions and is held from returning to offposition b the fact that the shoulder 26 on the hand e is engaged withthe shoulder 18.

When the headlight is to be fully on the handle is moved until theshoulder 26'abuts against the shoulder 19, the handle also beingprevented from return toward ofi position or to the left by the factthat the shoulder 26 on the handle is engaged with the shoulder'19.

When, however, the light is to be temporarily dimmed as when crossing aroad or any other place where the glare of the light is dangerous totrafiic, the handle is moved into the osition shown in Fig. 1 in whichthe shou der 26 engages the shoulder 20 and is held by the motorman orengineer in such position until it is no longer necessary to dim thelight when he releases the handle 25 and it returns automatically tobright position.

-' What we claim. is:

1. In. an electric switch, the combination of a switch member comprisinga body movable about an axis, a conductor extendin circumferentiallyaround the body, a plura ity of contacts arranged to be successivelyengaged by the conductor upon movement of the switch member in' onedirection, the conductor andthe contacts being relatively arranged sothat initial movement of said member engages the conductor with thefirst two contacts, a second movement of the body in the same directionengages the conductor and all three contacts and a third movement of thebody in the same direction engages the conductor with the first twocontacts only.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of a switch member comprisinga body movable about an axis, a conductor extending circumferentiallyaround the body, a plurality of contacts arranged to be engaged by theconductor upon movement of the switch member in one direction, theconductor and the contacts being relatively arranged so that initialmovement of member engages the conductor with the first two contacts, asecond movement of said member in the same direction engages all threecontacts and a third movement of said member in the same directionengages the conductor and the first two contacts only, operating meansfor actuating said body, said operating means com rising a spring tendng toreturn' the switc member to its starting position and means tendingto hold the operating means in its position occupied when the conductorof the switch member is in its first and second operated sitions.

.3, Iu'an electric switch, he co m tioa of a body of insulation movableabout an axis, a conductor extending in a circumferential directionaround the body and having a widened position at its advance end, threecontacts arranged to be engaged successively by the conductor bymovement of the switch member in one direction, the third contact beingarranged to engage the wider portion only of the conductor and means foroperating the switch member.

4. A switch for headlights comprising a casing, a switch member locatedin the easing and formed with a recess opening through one end thereof,the switch member having a shank extending axially through the recessand being spaced apart from the walls of the recess, the shank extendingthrough thewall of the casing, a

spring coiled about the shank and extending into the recess andconnected at one end to the switch member and at its other end to i thecasing, and a handle mounted on the outer end of the shank,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A switch for headlights comprising a casing, a switch member locatedin the casing and formed with a recess opening through one end thereof,the switch member having-a shank extending axially through the recessand being spaced apart from the walls of the recess, the shank extendingthrough the wall of the casing, a spring coiled about the shank. andextending into the recess and connected at one end to the switch memberand at its other end to the casing, the casing being provided withratchet teeth determining the positions of the switch member, and ahandle mounted on the inter end of the shank and coacting with theratchet teeth, the handle having a positionbeyond the end of the ratchetteeth, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names at Syracuse, inthe county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 22nd day of August,1919.

CARL H. BISSELL. RAYMOND H. OLLEY.

